Keelan

Cole Sr.

Cole was cut by the Raiders in August but joined the team’s practice squad shortly after. He did not appear in a game for the Raiders this year.

Dorsett, signed earlier this offseason after the departure of Mack Hollins, was thought to be competing for a perimeter depth role but was ultimately made obsolete by the subsequent signing of speedster DeAndre Carter. It appears as if the Raiders will enter the 2023 season with a shallow wide receiver depth chart behind established starters Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Hunter Renfrow after also releasing veteran wide receiver Keelan Cole and WR Cam Sims. Also released or waived Tuesday were DE David Agoha, DT Matthew Butler, G McClendon Curtis, TE Cole Fatheringham, S Jaydon Grant, CB Tyler Hall, CB Azizi Hearn, LB Kana’i Mauga, RB Sincere McCormick, G Netane Muti, DE Adam Plant, TE John Samuel Shenker, DE George Tarlas, LB Drake Thomas, CB Sam Webb, G Alex Bars, C Hroniss Grasu, S Jaquan Johnson, DE Isaac Rochell, CB Duke Shelley, RB Damien Williams and DE Jordan Willis.

A solid training camp with the Raiders last offseason was enough for him to earn a spot on the 53-man roster early in the season. Serving primarily on special teams, Cole appeared in 14 games for the Raiders while posting a line of 10-141-1 on 21 targets. He’ll be battling for a spot on the 53-man roster again this offseason.

The team placed DJ Turner on injured reserve in a corresponding move. Cole signed a one-year deal with the Raiders in the offseason but was released amid final roster cuts. Vegas added him to their practice squad shortly after. He will play a reserve role as a receiver while primarily pitching in on special teams.

Cole was a surprise cut by the Raiders last week after he appeared to be competing for No. 3 receiver duties. Cole turned in a solid preseason, securing 11-of-15 targets for 149 yards, but will now look to play his way on to the 53-man roster during the season.

Cole appeared to be battling for the No. 3 receiver job, so it is a bit of a surprise to see him on the cut list. Las Vegas kept Mack Hollins, Tyron Johnson, and DJ Turner behind Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. Hollins looks like the favorite for the No. 3 job.

With Demarcus Robinson cut and Mack Hollins getting the night off, Cole was given the spotlight as a starting receiver. He didn’t disappoint and made his case for being the team’s third receiver. Still, Hollins getting rested points to him having the inside track on a starting gig. Neither receiver figures to have a fantasy-relevant role, but Derek Carr did throw for 4,804 yards last year. Simply earning a starting job on this team could be a pathway to a few spike weeks throughout the year.

Cole took a reverse up the left side of the field for a first down before a helmet-to-helmet hit by Jaguars S Daniel Thomas left him down on the field after the play concluded. Cole stayed down for a handful of minutes before walking off under his own power, but it’s safe to say the 29-year-old is likely finished for tonight. Cole is pushing for a starting job in camp opposite Davante Adams, with Mack Hollins and Demarcus Robinson being his biggest competition for the role. We’ll wait to hear more on Cole’s status after the game.

Tafur gives Cole and Hollins an edge on veteran free agent signing Demarcus Robinson. Cole, 29, averaged 16 yards per grab on 28 receptions for last year’s terrible Jets offense. He finished the season with 449 yards and a touchdown. In 2020 with the Jaguars, Cole managed 55 receptions -- including five touchdowns -- as a primary target in the Jacksonville offense. Hollins, meanwhile, is a big-bodied receiver who scored four touchdowns last year with Miami. Cole and Hollins would be behind Davante Adams, Darren Waller, and Hunter Renfrow in the Raiders’ pass-catching pecking order.

Cole, 29, has long been a productive depth wideout wherever he’s been, spending last season with the Jets after four with the Jaguars. Cole averaged a robust 16 yards per catch on 28 grabs for New York in 2021, totaling 449 yards and a touchdown. For his career, Cole has a 187-2,691-13 line across 79 games, good for 14.4 yards per grab. In Vegas, Cole will compete for a job behind Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow under new coach Josh McDaniels.